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Christmas

Earlier this month, I said I would report back on the gluten free afternoon tea at Brown’s Hotel in London. My Mum, Sister and Aunt like to meet up in London now and then for a day out and a catch up.

I’ve never suggested afternoon tea before, although I’ve been with friends several times, as my Mum is gluten free and I’ve always assumed that it wouldn’t be worth it for her. After all, the main part of afternoon tea is sandwiches, cake and scones!

I was convinced to give it a go after chatting to the maître d’ at the English Tea Room and I’m so glad I did. The bread used for the gluten free tea was indistinguishable from the normal bread. I have no idea how that’s even possible!

The gluten free scones were excellent too. And as far as I could see, the only difference between the gluten free cakes and the normal cakes was the lack of choux, which is totally understandable.

On top of all of that, you get charming service and a live pianist. We’ll definitely be back.

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

So earlier this month we went for a long weekend in Brussels. I lived in Brussels a long time ago and I haven’t been back for years, so I was really looking forward to the trip. Little did I know it would be taking place the weekend before we moved house!

Grand Place at Christmas is always good value. It’s not filled with Christmas Market stalls, so you can move around, there’s a son et lumière and a crèche with live sheep (no really – apparently they used to have other animals too, but people would steal them!)

Grand Place at Christmas

The main parts of the Christmas Market are around Bourse (the Stock Exchange) and Place Ste Catherine (lots of fish restaurants). It blows my mind that the Boulevard outside the Bourse is closed to traffic – it used to be a super-highway!

Bourse at ChristmasSte Catherine at Christmas

We didn’t go on the big wheel because it was absolutely freezing and blowing a gale!

The Grande Roue

Now, these daisies were up on the inner ring road near Trône metro station and I’m not sure if they are Christmas decorations or there all year round. It certainly wouldn’t be unimaginable for the Brussels local government to decide that junctions could do with brightening up. This is a country that used to put heart-shaped filters over red traffic lights at Valentine’s. I wonder if they still do?

Christmas daisies?

Finally, one of the new European Parliament buildings. It’s not Christmassy, but I love this rainbow effect!

European Parliament

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

I decorated the tree in a style described as ‘toddler on a sugar high’!

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

The Mayor of Bath’s Christmas card this year is a fantastic cartoon featuring Oldfield Park, by Perry Harris.

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

Here’s what I’ll be putting in my office Secret Santa – £5 from Sainsbury’s and it doesn’t even need wrapping!

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒

This month, I’m again attempting to blog every day to turn this corner of the internet into a sort of advent calendar. Posts will be tagged ChristmasCountdown2015 or you can look at the calendar in the sidebar ⇒